July 17, 2023

WorldFish and Norway collaborate to launch centre for aquaculture in Egypt

WorldFish, in partnership with Norway, has initiated a four-year project to develop the Centre for Renewable Energy in Aquaculture (CeREA), which aims to refine, test, and scale innovative approaches that promote energy efficiency and climate resilience in Egypt's aquaculture sector, Zawya reported.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo will provide funding for CeREA until 2027, supporting the transformation of food value chains and enhancing the livelihoods of 5,000 fish producers, processors, and other actors in the sector.

Hilde Klemetsdal, Norway's ambassador to Egypt, said that the project has the potential to increase productivity, reduce food waste, and improve income levels within the aquaculture industry.

By promoting the adoption of renewable energy solutions, CeREA will contribute to the establishment of more sustainable and climate-smart food value chains.

WorldFish has been actively engaged with Egypt's aquaculture and fisheries sector since the establishment of its research and training centre in Abbassa, Sharkia, in 1998. The launch of CeREA marks a significant milestone in their efforts to advance the development of aquatic food systems and address global food security challenges.

Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed, director-general of WorldFish and senior director of Aquatic Food Systems at CGIAR, expressed their commitment to promoting low-emission development pathways for aquaculture to benefit both people and the planet.

CeREA will serve as a flagship initiative of WorldFish's Fish for Africa Innovation Hub (FAIH), which is located at the Abbassa research centre. The FAIH aims to create 6 million new jobs in African aquaculture by 2030, while also prioritising climate adaptation, gender equity, and food and nutrition security.

-      Zawya